Ice storms sweep northeast US, power supply disrupted

Washington, Dec 13 (DPA) A massive winter storm swept across northeastern US, covering several states in sheets of ice, forcing roads to close and leaving one million people without power.As crews worked to clear the debris of collapsed trees and power lines that could not withstand the weight of the ice, the governors of Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire declared emergency in their respective states.

While officials hoped that some electricity connections would be restored by Monday, they warned it could take longer.

“There are 350,000 households without power right now in Massachusetts in the areas hardest hit by the storm,” Governor Deval Patrick said at a news conference Friday.

“We’re not out of the woods because temperatures are expected to drop and freezing will follow.”

He later mobilized 500 National Guards troop to help clear roads.

Schools and several offices in all the affected states were closed.

“This is a serious storm,” John Maserjian, a spokesman for Central Hudson Gas and Electric in New York state, told broadcaster CNN.

“We have contended with worse storms in past years, but this is among the worst.”

In New Hampshire, more than 400,000 residents had no electricity, while there was a blackout in 200,000 Maine homes.